Delicious & Healthy Air Fryer Baked Apples: Your New Favorite Crumble-Filled Treat (Oven Option Included!)

Imagine a warm, comforting apple crumble, perfectly portioned and ready in minutes. That’s exactly what these air fryer baked apples offer! They are like individual apple crumbles, boasting a soft, cinnamon-spiced apple interior topped with a delightful oat-based crunch. Whether you’re seeking a wholesome breakfast to kickstart your day or a guilt-free dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings, these baked apples are an excellent choice. Don’t own an air fryer? No problem! We’ll also guide you through making these delightful treats in a conventional oven. Plus, with simple adjustments, this recipe can easily accommodate whole wheat, gluten-free, and vegan dietary preferences, making it truly versatile for everyone.

Guess who finally joined the air fryer craze? I actually treated myself to one on January 2nd, but I’m officially declaring it a belated Christmas present! And let me tell you, it’s already become an indispensable kitchen gadget. The very first recipe I decided to experiment with was these fantastic air fryer baked apples. It felt like the perfect way to break in my new appliance – something relatively simple, healthy, and utterly delicious. The concept is straightforward yet brilliant: cored apples are generously filled with a sweet, spiced, and crumbly oat topping, then baked until tender. If you adore the flavors and textures of a classic apple crumble, you’ll definitely want to try this healthy Raw Apple Pom Crumble too for another inspired treat!

Air Fryer vs. Oven: Two Ways to Baked Apple Perfection

While my air fryer is a new addition, I’ve been making baked apples in the oven for years. In fact, I initially planned to share only the oven method. However, after experiencing the incredible speed and crispy texture the air fryer delivers, I knew I had to include both techniques. So, if you’re not yet an air fryer owner, rest assured, you can still enjoy these delicious baked apples with your conventional oven. The result is equally delightful, just with a slightly different cooking time and energy consumption.

One key consideration for air frying is the size of your appliance and the apples. Depending on your air fryer’s capacity, you might need to core and halve the apples to ensure they fit properly without touching the heating element. This doesn’t make them any less delicious; in fact, halving the apples can sometimes make them cook more evenly and makes coring even easier! Instead of carefully scooping out the core from a whole apple, you can simply slice the apple in half through the stem and then scoop or cut out the core with greater ease. This method works wonderfully for oven baking too, offering a slightly different presentation and potentially faster cooking time for individual portions.

Choosing the Best Apples for Baking

Selecting the right apple is crucial for a perfect baked apple. While Granny Smith apples are a beloved classic for baking, and you’ll see them featured in the photos, I often opt for sweeter varieties due to their thinner skins and naturally delicious flavor that requires less added sugar. Granny Smiths are fantastic for their tartness and ability to hold their shape, which is why many bakers reach for them. However, for a slightly sweeter, more tender result without needing to peel, my personal favorites for this recipe are Jonagold, Gala, or Golden Delicious apples.

These varieties are known for their thin skins, which become wonderfully tender during baking, meaning you don’t have to worry about peeling them – a real-time saver! They are also considered excellent baking apples, ensuring a delightful taste and texture that holds up well to the heat, becoming soft but not mushy. Other great baking apple options include Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Rome Beauty. When choosing apples, look for firm, unblemished fruit. A good baking apple will maintain its structure, offer a balanced flavor that complements the spices, and soften beautifully. To make the most of your apple harvest, consider trying these other healthy apple recipes:

• Individual Apple Crisps
• Honey-Ginger Cranberry Apple Crisp
• Healthy Cinnamon Apple Muffins

And if you find yourself with an abundance of apples, this Slow Cooker Applesauce is an incredibly easy and delicious way to use them up, providing a comforting treat for days!

Elevate Your Baked Apples with Delightful Add-ins and Toppings

The beauty of these baked apples lies not only in their simplicity but also in their adaptability. You can easily customize them with your favorite add-ins and serving toppings to create a personalized treat every time. For the filling, I particularly enjoy the sweetness and chewiness of raisins. However, dried cranberries or dried cherries are equally fantastic alternatives, adding a burst of tangy flavor that beautifully complements the apples and cinnamon. If dried fruit isn’t your preference, feel free to omit it entirely. The same goes for the pecans; they add a wonderful nutty crunch, but they can be left out for a nut-free version or swapped with other nuts like walnuts, sliced almonds, or even sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a different texture and flavor profile.

Once your baked apples emerge warm and fragrant from the air fryer or oven, the real fun begins with the toppings! If you have a serious sweet tooth, a generous drizzle of maple syrup or honey can elevate the sweetness and add a beautiful glaze. For a truly indulgent (yet still somewhat healthy!) dessert, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream is absolutely divine. For a healthier spin that still feels luxurious, consider pairing them with Greek yogurt or a swirl of creamy coconut whipped cream (if you’re keeping it vegan). A sprinkle of extra cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg can also enhance the aromatic experience. These simple additions can transform your baked apples from a healthy snack into a truly memorable dessert, perfect for any occasion.

Dietary Options: Making These Baked Apples Work for Everyone

One of the best aspects of this recipe is its flexibility to fit various dietary needs without compromising on flavor or texture. With a few simple substitutions, you can easily make these baked apples gluten-free, whole wheat, or vegan.

Gluten-Free Option

Making these baked apples gluten-free is incredibly simple. For the flour component, I highly recommend using Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. This particular blend is designed to be a direct substitute for all-purpose flour in most recipes, meaning you can use the same measurements without needing to adjust other ingredients. The result is consistently delicious, with a texture that closely mimics traditional flour-based crumbles.

While other 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blends might work, I haven’t personally tested them in this specific recipe. Many brands can sometimes result in a gritty texture or impart a funky aftertaste in baked goods, so Bob’s Red Mill is my trusted choice for its reliable performance. Beyond the flour, it’s crucial to ensure your oats are certified gluten-free. Regular oats can often be cross-contaminated with wheat during processing, even though oats themselves are naturally gluten-free. For more detailed information and to understand why certified gluten-free oats are essential, I encourage you to read this informative article: Are Oats Gluten-free?

Healthy Whole Wheat Option

If you’re aiming for a healthier, whole-grain option, you have a couple of choices for the flour. You can stick with regular all-purpose flour for a classic taste and texture. However, for a beneficial whole-grain boost without a strong “whole wheaty” flavor, I highly recommend using white whole wheat flour. Unlike traditional whole wheat flour, which can sometimes be dense and have a more robust, earthy taste, white whole wheat flour is milled from a lighter variety of wheat. This results in a milder flavor and finer texture that is remarkably similar to all-purpose flour.

I generally don’t recommend using regular whole wheat flour in this recipe, as its stronger flavor profile can make the apples taste a bit too “healthy” and might overwhelm the delicate apple and spice flavors. White whole wheat flour, on the other hand, is a fantastic compromise. Its subtle taste means even picky eaters, including children, often won’t be able to tell that they’re enjoying a whole-grain treat. It’s an easy way to incorporate more fiber and nutrients into your diet without sacrificing deliciousness.

Vegan Option

Converting these baked apples into a delightful vegan treat is effortlessly simple. The primary ingredient to swap is the butter in the crumble topping. You can confidently use either coconut oil or your favorite brand of vegan butter. Both options work beautifully, yielding a rich, flavorful crumble that adheres perfectly to the apples. Just ensure that whichever option you choose is melted and cooled slightly before mixing, just as you would with dairy butter.

Beyond the crumble, remember to consider any additional toppings you might add. If you plan on serving your baked apples with ice cream or whipped cream, make sure to select dairy-free versions. There are many fantastic vegan ice creams made from almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, and coconut whipped cream is a wonderfully rich and creamy alternative. For a truly decadent vegan accompaniment, this Vegan Custard would be absolutely amazing on top, adding a smooth, sweet counterpoint to the warm apples and crisp topping.

I am genuinely excited for you to try these incredibly versatile and delicious air fryer baked apples. Whether you’re making them for a quick breakfast, a healthy snack, or a comforting dessert, they are sure to become a cherished recipe in your home. If you give them a try, I’d absolutely love to know what you think and how you customized them!